Barack Obama Wins the Democratic Nomination

By Pamela Mortimer

The Democratic primaries were still going on when the Associated Press announced that Barack Obama had received enough superdelegates in the South Dakota and Montana primaries to seize the highly coveted Democratic nod for the presidency. The results of the primary have not yet been made public but the odds are that the Illinois senator has won the vote. There has been a victory celebration planned in St. Paul, MN which will also be the location of the Republican National Convention in August.

The predicted results of the primary were based on the number of the 31 superdelegates who had privately confirmed that they would endorse Obama. If the numbers stay true, then Obama has surpassed the necessary 2,188 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

Although the prediction does not bode well for Hillary Clinton, however the New York senator’s camp contradicts rumors that she will make a concession speech Tuesday evening when she addresses a New York City audience. In fact, the Clinton camp says that the AP predictions are not true.

"The AP story is incorrect," the campaign said in a statement. "Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination this evening."

According to Clinton aides, the only concession Hillary will make on Tuesday night is that Obama "has a slight lead in the delegate count." Never one to throw in the towel, Clinton plans to announce that she has won the popular vote. She is currently working on a "victory-type speech" for Tuesday night’s address.

"She is in this race until we have a nominee. We do not expect there to be one tonight," said Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee.

Elleithee added that Clinton has spent time trying to convince uncommitted superdelegates that she remains the strongest candidate to go head to head with presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. Elleithee also said Clinton is still "weighing her options" regarding an appeal the Democratic National Committee decision to award Michigan delegates in a way that was "fundamentally flawed."

Before the conclusion of the Tuesday primaries, Obama laid the groundwork for reconciliation with his opponent.

"The sooner we can bring the party together, the sooner we can start focusing on McCain in November," Obama said. The Illinois senator made a call to Clinton on Sunday, congratulating her for the win in Puerto Rico.

The attempt at making peace has fueled speculation that there could be a "dream ticket" in which Clinton would agree to become Obama’s running mate, a scenario that seems most unlikely.